Briefcase with pockets with magnetic closures

ABSTRACT

A soft sided briefcase is disclosed which has typical compartments and further includes external pockets with secure flap closures. The pockets are affixed to the side of the briefcase, and the flap closures are suitably hinged to a portion of the pockets. Sections of the pockets as well as areas of the flaps include cooperating steel plate members and permanent magnets, or both having permanent magnets, to provide access faster than would be possible via conventional zipper closures and is reasonably secure in providing protective closure for internal contents.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to luggage or cases, and more particularlyto soft side cases or briefcases such as for carrying various itemsincluding laptop computers and other devices.

Typical cases of this nature are made from a strong cloth such asballistic nylon, leather or the like, and usually include variouscompartments with openings closed by zippers, snaps or the like. Manycases of this nature include external pockets for carrying items likecellphones, portable communication devices, calculators, pens, pencilsand so on. These external pockets, if they have any depth, are closed byzippers or secure snaps.

Carrying devices have been provided in the past with magnetic closures,but typically of the pocketbook or purse type. One example is a handbagshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,447 which has a fastening mechanism thatmay be a magnetic closure mechanism. Another example is a bag closuresystem shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,923. However, these devices are notsuitable for external pockets on a briefcase or the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a portable carrying case of thenature described above but with relatively large external pockets havingstiffened opening flaps and wherein the flaps can be securely andquickly closed through an arrangement of permanent magnets. In anexamplary embodiment the case is in the form of a briefcase having apair of handles, and with several compartments having external andinternal zipper closures. External and relatively deep three-dimensionalpockets are securely and integrally attached, and include flapscooperating with sections of the pockets for closing the pockets and areretained closed by the magnets.

In the case of the present invention an exemplary embodiment has twoexternal three-dimensional pockets securely attached, as by sewing, to aside of the briefcase. These pockets are gusseted to provide fullrectangular pockets, not just flat partially open pockets as typicallyare found in a handbag or purse which have no significant depth to theopening. One particular advantage to a magnetic closure system is thatthe closure flaps close quickly and positively snap closed as soon asthey are moved toward the closed position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newform of carrying case.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new form ofbriefcase having pockets which are maintained closed by permanentmagnets suitably located with respect to the pockets.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome better understood through a consideration of the followingdescription and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary briefcase according to thepresent invention with a pair of external pockets shown open.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the external pocketsclosed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustratingthe cooperative relationship of one pair of magnets.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 particularlyshowing the curved shape of the flap 38.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a magnetic handle attachmentcover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, a case in the form of a soft sidedbriefcase 10 is illustrated, and having the usual sides 12 and 13 andends 16 and 17 all integrally formed with a top 20. The case 10 as shownhas internal compartments closed via zippers 22 and 24 and dividing thecase into several compartments as is well known. The case 10 includes apair of handles 28 and a handle closure wrap 30. The case 10 alsoincludes if desired a shoulder strap 32.

According to the present invention, the case 10 includes one or morethree-dimensional pockets 36 and 38 attached to side 12 and which aregusseted to provide full rectangular three-dimensional pockets and frontsections 36 a, b and 38 a, b, and having respective closure flaps 40 and42 for the pockets 36 and 38. The flaps 40 and 42 are hinged at 40 a and42 a to the respective pockets 36 and 38. As can be seen from FIG. 1,these pockets 36 and 38 are relatively deep, and can readily holdvarious articles, such as cell phones, electronic communication devicessuch as those sold under the trademarks Blackberry and Trio, acalculator, pens, pencils and the like. The pockets 36 and 38 caninclude internal dividers 44 through 48 to help maintain devices thereinseparated. The pocket 36 is also shown as including an internal pocketclosed by a zipper 50. The pockets preferably are formed of two layersof material and this plus the front sections ensure a relatively rigidpocket structure.

According to the present invention, the pockets 36 and 38 are not onlyintegrally fixed to the side 12 of the briefcase 10 to provide quick andeasy access to the contents of the pockets, but they further utilizestiffened and configured flaps 40 and 42 and a magnetic closure systemas best seen in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5. The pocket 36 is illustrated ashaving five members 54 a through 54 e which are either steel orpermanent magnet inserts. Similarly, five members 56 a through 56 e areshown in the cover flap 40 and which represent permanent magnets orsteel members. Two of these 54 c and 56 c are illustrated incross-section in FIG. 3. The members 54 and 56 can comprise any suitablecombination of steel inserts and permanent magnet inserts. For example,the ones at 54 can be steel inserts, and the ones at 56 permanentmagnets. In the case of thicker material from which the pockets 36 and38 and flaps 40 and 42 are constructed, such as of leather, it can bedesirable for all of members 54 and 56 to be permanent magnets which arepolarized oppositely to properly attract those at 56 to those at 54 forproviding a firm and tight closure of the flap 40 to the pocket 36. Thearrangement of the magnets is such that when 54 a and 56 a and 54 e and56 e come close together the flap 40 starts to immediately snap closed.

The second pocket 38 similarly includes four either steel or permanentmagnet inserts 60 a through 60 b and a similar set 62 a - 62 d in thecover flap 42. In both of the external pockets 36 and 38, the steel andmagnet members can be retained in the pocket and flaps 40 and 42 and anysuitable manner as by stitching them within a sandwich of the materialfrom which the pockets 36 and 38 and flaps 40 and 42 are constructed,that is between the shell and lining fabrics.

Another important structural feature of the pockets 36 and 38 and theirrespective flaps 40 and 42 is the inclusion of thin plastic strips 64and 66 which are curved as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to enable thetops 67 and 68 of the respective flaps 40 and 42 to be curved in amanner to fully overlap the top sides 69 and 70 of the respectivepockets 36 and 38. These strips 64 and 66 comprise interlining materialbetween the shell S and lining L fabrics of the flaps 40 and 42 andpreferably are formed of thin gauge polyethylene plastic sheet. Thus,the flaps 40 and 42 provide semi-rigid, fully overlapping edges on thetop sides of both the pockets 36, 38, and the pocket flaps 40, 42 toprovide fully secure closures. FIGS. 3 and 4 particularly illustrate thestrip 64 in the top 67 of the flap 40 surrounding permanent magnet 56 c.The pockets 36 and 38 also are formed of two layers S and L of materialto ensure sufficient stiffness of them. Also pressure molded fabric canbe used.

FIG. 5 further illustrates a cover 30 for the upper ends of the handles26 and 28 which is attached to one of the two handles. It too can beretained closed by a magnetic assembly much like those previouslydiscussed. One side of the cover 30 includes members 70 a-70 c which maybe steel members or permanent magnets, and the other side includesmembers 72 a through 72 c which too may be either permanent magnets orsmall steel plates.

While an embodiment of the present invention as been shown anddescribed, various modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention, and all such modifications andequivalents are intended to be covered.

1. A soft sided case constructed of suitable material, such as a strongfabric, plastic, leather or the like, and having suitable compartmentsfor carrying various articles, such as a laptop computer, books, andother devices, and further comprising at least one external pocketaffixed to a side of the case for carrying smaller items such as cellphones, portable communication devices, calculators, pens, pencils andthe like, and the pocket further including an attached flap configuredto be opened for internal access and to completely enclose and cover thepocket, and the flap including an internal stiffening member toconfigure the top of the flap to overlay the top of the pocket, andsections of the flap and the pocket including cooperating metal piecesand magnets, or both including magnets, for mutually attracting the flapto the pocket.
 2. A case as in claim 1 wherein the stiffening member isa thin gauge plastic strip.
 3. A case as in claim 1 wherein the pocketincludes metal inserts attractable by permanent magnets, and the flapincluding permanent magnets.
 4. A case as in claim 1 wherein the membersin the pocket and the members in the flap comprise permanent magnetsarranged to mutually attract each other.
 5. A case as in claim 1including a pair of handles and a cover attached to one handle, thecover including one or more magnets for firmly enclosing the coveraround both handles.
 6. A soft sided case constructed of suitablematerial, such as a strong fabric, plastic, leather or the like, andhaving suitable compartments for carrying various articles, such as alaptop computer, books, and other devices, and further comprising aplurality of external pockets affixed to a side of the case for carryingsmaller items such as cell phones, portable communication devices,calculators, pens, pencils and the like, and the pockets each furtherincluding an attached flap configured to be opened for internal accessand to completely enclose and cover the respective pocket, and each flapincluding an internal stiffening member to configure the top of the flapto overlie the top of the respective pocket, and sections of the flapand the pocket including cooperating metal pieces and magnets, or bothincluding magnets, for mutually attracting each flap to the respectivepocket.
 7. A case as in claim 6 wherein the stiffening member is a thingauge plastic strip.
 8. A case as in claim 6 wherein the pockets includemetal inserts attractable by permanent magnets, and the flaps includingpermanent magnets.
 9. A case as in claim 6 wherein the members in thepocket and the members in the flap each comprise permanent magnetsarranged to mutually attract each other.
 10. A case as in claim 6including a pair of handles and a cover attached to one handle, thecover including one or more magnets for firmly enclosing the coveraround both handles.